unavoidable laundry

[Volvo Farmer]

might i ask you guys for model numbers of these lg machines as there are many models? are they top load or front load? capacity?

not asking for me, but for general knowledge.

Mine's a front loader. I wouldn't recommend the top loaders, as they really had to pull some engineering tricks out of the hat to make a low water consumption vertical axis washer. In other words, they break a lot :)

I'm almost certain that all LG front loaders are the same capacity. The only differences I have seen are that some have recirculation pumps (mine doesn't), some have a "steam" option, and some have an internal water heater for sanitizing clothes. Other than that it just comes down to bells and whistles and programming. Mine has the internal heater but it's easy to select a cycle that does not use it.

I see in your signature a 2.5kw Onan genset. Like many, you could run the genset during laundry morning and get some battery charging done at the same time. (I don't, consumption of the washer is not great and it's load is not either)

I would not do this. The electronics in these new washers are pretty delicate. I blew up the machine control board on mine trying to wash clothes using the generator because the voltage regulator circuit was out of whack. Also I have observed the voltage waveform when charging batteries with an FX and it looks more like a mountain range than a sinewave.

[vtmaps]

Also I have observed the voltage waveform when charging batteries with an FX and it looks more like a mountain range than a sinewave.

I'm confused (again). What waveform are you referring to? Doesn't the fx put out DC when charging batteries? --vtMaps

[BB.]

I believe the issue is that many (FX included?) battery chargers (or inverter/charger in this case) are not "Power Factor Corrected" (PFC).

The usually non-PFC computer power supply/typical battery charger uses a Diode Bridge to charge a capacitor or the battery bank (through a transformer). This is like a "check valve" that only lets current through to the battery near the peak of the voltage sine wave (input utility or generator power).

These current peaks draw high current pulses, can, on non-utility sources (gensets, inverters, etc.) can actually collapse the Sine Wave Voltage peak of the power source (draw way more peak current than the generator/inverter is capable of outputting). This can cause the voltage sine wave source to look like a series of "broken" or "clipped" voltage peaks vs a pure sine wave output.

-Bill

[Photowhit]

I have a front load whirlpool that is part of a stackable pair, I have the drier as well but haven't used it much as I'll take my new place off grid in the fall. Someone else pointed out that all LG front loaders, appeared to have the same capacity. It is likely at least somewhat true of Whirlpool, mine has at least tha capacity of the coin top loaders at work/campground. The stackable drier would have issues if you put the whole washer load in at once!

My word of caution with the my front loader, is that the ultra high spin will put wrinkles in polyester/cotton uniform(Dickies) shirts and pants that don't readily come out. I always lower the spin speed when doing the plastic clothes. Other wise the highest spin speed is awsome, I did a pair of heavy double front denim pants the other day, and between the high spin speed and a dry windy day, they dried in a couple hours, they can take that long in a basement dryer!

[vtmaps]

I would not do this. The electronics in these new washers are pretty delicate. I blew up the machine control board on mine trying to wash clothes using the generator because the voltage regulator circuit was out of whack. Also I have observed the voltage waveform when charging batteries with an FX and it looks more like a mountain range than a sinewave.

I believe the issue is that many (FX included?) battery chargers (or inverter/charger in this case) are not "Power Factor Corrected" (PFC).
<snip>
This can cause the voltage sine wave source to look like a series of "broken" or "clipped" voltage peaks vs a pure sine wave output.

Bill, I think you are quite right. Over on the Outback forum Crewzer tested the Outback chargers with a kill-a-watt meter and found that the power factor was above 90% when the charger was near capacity, but much lower PF at lower charge rates.
reference: http://www.outbackpower.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2134
--vtMaps

[waynefromnscanada]

I've been very lucky running the Sears Front loader on my Xantrex Pure Sine 1800/12, and in Power Save mode. Either the inverter is really great (I love it) or the washer isn't very picky about it's power quality. Seriously, I believe there's no excuse for designing appliances that need perfect power quality. What, you have a brownout so you have to go buy a new washer? That sucks! Extremely poor design in my opinion. It's one thing for a cell phone charger to go up in smoke - - but a $1500 washing machine? No way!

[solarvic]

Niel, My lg washer was bought Januart 2008. It was called tromm washing machine model 2455h which is replaced with later model nos. I bought it near the end of its model run and got a deal at sears on it.Was recomended highly by consumers report at the time. Has 4.2 cu ft, stainless steel drum, filter in the recirculation pump.and all kinds of bells and whistles. Maximum spin speed 1200 rpm. gets out the water. Daughter liked it so well she bought one too. I have mine on an old satelite surge protecter so I won,t get any power surges. Energy guide said: uses 180 kwh per year washing 8 loads of clothes per week. solarvic

[silvertop]

I think front loaders are the way to go. We have the Affinity from Frigidaire, large capacity and soft start; when we were 12v we ran this off a small battery bank and Xantrex SW 1800; wer'e very happy with this washer. I can't remember what it pulled in maximum spin ( it has several speeds to choose from) - I think it was about 650 watts, but the rest of the cycle it pulls between 35W and 200w; a good product. We had a Staber in
Colorado, but a word of caution if you have kids, big or little, any pocket change ( or similar sized objects left in jeans etc. spin out and into the rubber drain hose clogging it and creating a pain in the rear disassemble to get to it and remove whatever. This happened much too frequently.

[waynefromnscanada]

Something totally different to think about - - The Dirty secret behind washing machines. Very interesting little video.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middle...372405531.html

[solarvic]

Better watch! This might be construed as a political statement. solarvic